When Pastors Fall: Keeping Your Eye on the Ball
How could this happen? That is the question everyone in the church world (and even the non-church world) is asking today after the last five days of events in Colorado Springs. Ted Haggard, pastor of the enormous New Life Church; and president of the National Association of Evangelicals first denied the drug and homosexual activity allegations that were brought against him. Then he admitted to some indiscretions. Finally, his church and the board of overseers of the ministry concluded that he had, indeed, been guilty of sexual immorality of some kind and immediately accepted his resignation. Four days... going from being a well-respected national Christian leader to a disgraced man, humiliated by an ugly and now-public secret life. So today, let's really ask... "How could this happen?"...
Steve Gallagher of Pure Life Ministries recently wrote on this subject recently in an article featured at the Canadian PromiseKeeper’s web site that deals with this issue. Steve writes: “The danger those in ministry face are not the sexual enticements one is assaulted by in the sexualized culture of America but the overwhelming pressure exerted upon them to slack off spiritually. In Galatians 5—that marvelous chapter that describes the battle between the Spirit-led life and the carnal life—Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) My testimony is that in all my years of ministering to Christian men who had fallen into sin—including many pastors—I have never found any evidence that would dispute the truth of that statement. To put it in its most basic terms: those who walk in the Spirit in their daily lives will find the strength available to withstand temptation when it presents itself; those who walk in the flesh will not.”
OK… walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh… easier said than done, right? But what warning signs are there that you might be close to a position where you may fall? From Steve’s experience here are a few things that pastors who’ve fallen have in common. Steve writes:
1. Their devotional life has not been properly maintained. Anumber of years ago I was asked to speak at a pastors’ retreat on the subject, Why Do Our Pastors Keep Falling Into Sin? One of the things I said to those pastors was that, of all the fallen pastors I had dealt with over the years, I had never once had to minister to a “Mary,” but I had dealt with many “Marthas.” In other words, those who stay at the feet of Christ are not vulnerable to falling into sin. At Pure Life Ministries, every worker—whether he is ministering to others or simply filling telephone orders—is required to spend at least two hours a day seeking God. If these lay people can live that way, surely those who are representing the Lord to others should do so as well.
2. There is an over-busy life. This is difficult, because ministry can be very demanding. However, I have found that much of the activity of those who had fallen into sin was not generated by a sincere love for people as much as it was by selfish ambition or fear of man. The sincere minister will go to God and ask Him to reveal his motives. “Lord, am I involved in this activity because I truly want to help others or because I am trying to build a bigger church?” Or, “Lord, even if my motives are pure in this, is it your will?” Jesus scolded Martha by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”
3. Discouragement, Depression, & Fatigue. Satan often capitalizes upon discouragement to lead a person into sin. When a believer gets down or gets hurt by others, he becomes more vulnerable to temptation. Being worn out by ministry is another thing that will weaken a leader’s resolve to live a holy life. The ministry is both stressful and sedentary by nature. The combination of these elements often leave a person physically exhausted, which in turn makes him more vulnerable to temptation.
-----
After a rocky start filled with denials and downright lies, Ted Haggard ended his career (at least for now) with a letter that was read to his congregation yesterday that was exactly correct. In it, he stated emphatically numerous times that he was wrong; that he had sinned; and that he was heartbroken over its consequences. Take a look at the video of the letter being read in New Life’s services yesterday.
There are already some Christian leaders who are saying that Ted had this coming; that the evangelical church had this coming; and that this is just the sign of a church that is worldly, seeker-sensitive, and unconcerned with holiness. Finger pointing and playing the blame game helps nothing at this point. Calling the church corrupt (by other church leaders who have an ax to grind) doesn’t solve anything either. In fact, it only fuels the fire to an unsaved world and unregenerate media that are all watching us very closely right now.
--Entitlement
--Entrepreneurs without Balance
--Compartmentalization
--Expectation of Silence
--The Sex Issue
--Integrity
--Anger
--Accountability
--Conscience
--Mentors and Coaches
--Ethics
--Stress and Pressure
--Money
--Depression and Moods
--The One Who Can Keep You from Falling
No comments:
Post a Comment